Trail Blazers center Ibou Badji, who is on a two-way contract with the team, isn’t expected to make his NBA debut this season.
According to a press release from the Blazers, Badji underwent left knee surgery on Monday and will miss the next eight weeks. The team specified that Badji’s procedure was an arthroscopic patellar chondroplasty and debridement.
The NBA’s regular season will end in less than five weeks and Badji’s two-way contract makes him ineligible to participate in the postseason even if the Blazers do make the playoffs, so it’s highly unlikely he’ll take the court this season.
A 7’1″ Senegalese center with a 7’9″ wingspan, Badji played in Spain from 2019-22 and joined the Wisconsin Herd (the Bucks’ G League club) to begin the 2022/23 campaign. In seven games with the Herd, the 20-year-old averaged 7.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks in 17.6 minutes per contest, impressing the Blazers with his ability to protect the rim. Portland signed him to a two-way deal in November.
Because the Blazers are one of the NBA’s only teams without a G League affiliate of their own, Badji didn’t play any more NBAGL games after joining Portland.
The big man could have suited up for the Blazers or been assigned to another team’s G League affiliate, but he has been listed on the injury report since January 24 due to left knee soreness. Monday’s procedure was presumably aimed at alleviating that soreness and directly addressing the ailment in his knee.
Badji’s two-way contract expires at season’s end, so he’ll be eligible for restricted free agency this summer if he finishes the year with Portland.
Just plotting to myself here but would’ve loved to have seen Anfree Simons for OG Anunoby at the deadline.
I would’ve also included Thad Young and Josh Hart as apart of that deal.
Raptors line up
FVV Simons Barnes Siakim Poeltl
GTJ Hart Boucher and so on.
Simons ball handling, shooting, playmaking would be a perfect fit with Scottie Barnes, keeping FVV would’ve made sense, GTJ can thrive off the bench and Josh Hart too is a perfect Nick Nurse guy.
As for the Blazers that’s just the start for what I would’ve done. Instead of GP2 and all those picks and other teams getting involved should’ve just done GT2 and bits of Wiseman straight swap.
On top of that Thad Young, Nassir Little and a second for Victor Oladipo.
Leaving you to line up
Dame VO OG Grant Nurkic
Sharpe Winslow Wiseman
Then be active in the buyout market and filling out with free agents.
Dame as your star, anywhere from 15-30 points shot super efficiently from Jermai Grant while VO and OV give you a consistent 15-20 and Nurkic 10-15. Defensively you have great defenders everywhere OG is one of the best in the league on the ball, VO Grant and Nurkic are all great defensively too. Off the bench you’d need to get some guys, Wall Bev Walker would’ve been great leading that second unit. Next to them Shaedon Sharpe looks great, Justice Winslow is happy at either forward spot and is good defensively, youd again likely grab another forward be it Melo, LA or someone else. Then Wiseman and Eubanks competing as the back up 5.
Built for title contention, but with the likes of Shapre OG and Wiseman all have a great future ahead.
Think Toronto would cement themselves as a strong playoff side with a great future ahead. Portland would cement themselves as a playoff side and would be a real dark horse to win a championship. GSW would get GP2 and give up Wiseman as they have, Miami would’ve let go VO and filled in at PF which has been a big problem for them and Nas Little would have a second chance too. Think every team would have won.
Going into the postseason amd then offseason now can still see a world in which they go Simons for OG but the corresponding moves all wouldn’t happen and neither would the end of season playoff runs.